home | news l

Promises, promises

November 2007 - The National Sorry Day Committee, commends the attempt by Prime Minister John Howard to promise to deliver what he and his government of eleven years has manage to fail to deliver whilst in power.

Helen Moran co-chair NSDC walking the talk with ANTaR's SoH Sydney 2007

The calling of a referendum to acknowledge Indigenous Australia in the constitution or pre amble is a revisit to a failed debate of some years ago. A failed debate at the hands of Prime Minster Howard

This goes hand in hand with the refusal of the Prime Minister to sign the Statement of Reconciliation in 2000.

His refusal to say SORRY to the Stolen Generations.

He and Mal Brough's decision to ignore the recommendations of the Little Children are Sacred report and to invade Indigenous communities with no consultation to the Community leaders or service workers.

To force through legislation that takes control of the lands of Indigenous Australia and under minds the structures of protection that were in place to support the safety of children in isolated communities.

If Prime Minister Howard was fortunate enough to influence the gullibility of the Australian voters into believing his latest promise and if he succeeded in being re-elected to power and if he were to uphold his promise to call a referendum within 18 months, one is left to ask what real difference it would make to the rights of Indigenous Australia.

Most especially considering the recently created euphoric celebratory campaign of the forty year anniversary of the 67 Referendum. A deliberate distraction from the ten year anniversary of the tabling of the Bringing Them Home report and it's 54 recommendations of which only one has been fully implemented and fulfilled by the Howard Government.

The Referendum, where Aboriginal Australia was suppose to have gained recognition as equal citizens.

In Light of the recent actions toward the Northern Territory Aboriginal Communities by the Howard Government and the eleven years of neglect by the Howard government towards Indigenous Australia. The money spent to deny the payment of Stolen Wages, Stolen Generations Compensation and the refusal to apologise to the Stolen Generations. It leaves one to question the motives behind this most recent election tactic to gain or regain lost votes by Prime Minister Howard.

Source: NSDC

Further information: stolen generations issues page - includes news index and external links